Animated display sign



April 3, 1962 Filed March 26, 1959 F. DRUECK, JR

ANIMATED DISPLAY SIGN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/W fleoi raecificlx April 1962F DRUECK, JR 3,027,667

ANIMATED DISPLAY SIGN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1959 II-cz/er-zzbr Had fire; @635, c)!

Gabi r280 April 3, 1962 F. DRUECK, JR 3,027,667

ANIMATED DISPLAY SIGN Filed March 26, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ra JET/scipruficie, c/r

United States Patent 3,li27,bh7 Patented Apr. 3, 1%62 3,027,667 ANMATEI)DISPLAY SIGN Fred Drueclr, Jr., 4941 W. Henderson, Chicago, Ill. FiledMar. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 802,090 8 Claims. (Cl. 40-104) The presentinvention relates to an animated display, and more particularly to thatcharacter of display which employs a moving page or panel or pluralityof such pages or panels to fold back and forth like the pages of a bookor magazine. More particularly, the invention contemplates such adisplay as is susceptible of manufacture by stamping and packaging inknock-down form.

Animated displays have been produced for various advertisers employingvarious constructions in order to attract the prospective customersattention in public gathering places, railroad stations, bus depots,store windows, and the like. Most of these animated displays arerelatively expensive to build and are single purpose items.

The present invention has as one of its principal objects thedevelopment of an animated display which is susceptible of volumemanufacture from out paperboard, and yet which is sufliciently durableto give trouble-free operation throughout its anticipated usablelifetime.

Another object of the invention is to provide the amimated display withpages for turning which can be removed and replaced with other pageshaving different advertising material or printed indicia.

Still another object of the invention is to furnish an animated displaydevice with a power drive which can be removed when the usefuladvertisement life of the display is terminated and inserted in anotherdisplay device thereby reducing the cost of successive display devicesto the irreducible minimum.

Still a further object of the invention is to furnish an animateddisplay with turning pages in which the time relation between theturning of the various pages can be selectively controlled by themanufacturer to the particular display work involved for eachadvertising program.

An even further object of the invention is to provide a construction foran animated display out of cut paperboard which is sturdy, dependableand attractive.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings of one embodiment shown for illustrativepurposes in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the illustrative animated displayshowing the left hand page as it is being turned over to fold on top ofthe right hand page.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the animated display shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the animated display shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective partially broken, exploded view ofthe drive mechanism of the animated display device shown in FIG. 3.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the motor drive illustrating in phantomlines the successive positions of the drive.

FIGURE 6 is a partially broken, partially diagrammatic view of the drivemechanism shown when two pages are folded atop each other.

FIGURE 7 is a view successive to FIG. 6 showing one of the pages at itsmid-point in folding.

FIGURE 8 is a view successive to FIG. 7 with the first page reverselyfolded and the second page at its mid-point in folding.

FIGURE 9 is a view successive to FIG. 8 showing both pages fullyreversely folded from the condition shown in FIG. 6.

FIGURE 10 is a partially broken, enlarged perspective of an upper rearcorner of a page showing the relationship between the hinge support andcam follower tab.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged perspective, partially broken view of alaminated page construction showing a reinforced hinge tab and pageback.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective rear view of a modified embodiment in whichthe drive mechanism and mounting construction employs three pages ratherthan the two page device illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1 through 11.

The advantageous features contemplated by the invention will be bestunderstood in the light of a description of an operative unit. In FIG. 1there is shown an animated display unit 19 which includes a displayboard 11 and a pair of page inserts 12. The display board 11 is attachedto a stand 14 which is the support unit for the entire animated display10. When. supplied with a battery-operated power unit (as will bedescribed hereinafter) the page inserts 12 move sequentially from leftto right and then right to left, so that with two page inserts, fourseparate advertising displays may be flashed for the viewer to see.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the display board 11 is provided with aframe-like border 15 which is formed by folding the perimeter of thedisplay board and inserting locking tabs 16 into pre-formed slots 13.The stand 14 is similarly formed with a back portion 19 and sideportions 20. The side portions 20 are locked together by means of a backpanel 21 having locking tabs 22 its end portions which make the lockingslots 24 in the stand sides 20. The stand back 19 is secured to thedisplay board 11 by glue or other suitable attachment means.

Each page insert 12 is provided with a hinge hook 25 at two separatelocations which are proportioned to be engaged in the hinge hook slots26. In addition, as will be seen in greater detail in FIG. 10, a singlecam follower tab 28 is provided as an extension from the rear of eachpage insert 12. To provide for best support, the cam follower tabs 28are advantageously positioned at mid-points between the hinge hooks 25.A cam follower slot 29 is provided through the display board back 11 andthe stand back 19 (see FIG. 4). In this manner the page inserts 12 maybe readily attached and removed from the display board 11 with the camfollower tabs and hinge hooks engaging their respective slots by meansof insertion at an upper position and then lowering until the hinge hookjaw 27 hooks over the lower edge of the hinge hook slot 26.

Turning now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that a cam arm 39 is provided toactuate the page inserts 12 by means of the sequential engagement of thecam follower tabs 28 with the cam lobes 31. The cam arm is pivoted atits lower end by a pivot pin which passes though a pivot pin hole in thelower portion of the pivot arm 30 and the stand back 19 and mayadvantageously be riveted or otherwise secured at its far end where itpenetrates through the display board 11. The cam arm 30 is pie-shapedwith an arcuate enlarged upper edge 35 which is retained by the pivotarm retainer 36. The pivot arm retainer 36 is a U-shaped member having apair of support legs 38 which are secured to support leg backs 39 whichare in turn fastened to the stand back 19 thereby defining a pivotretaining slot 40 between the lower extremity of the pivot arm retainerand the stand back 19. When the arcuate upper portion 35 of the pivotarm 30 is secured within the pivot arm retainer slot, the cam arm 30reciprocates about the axis defined by the pivot pin and drives the pageinserts 12.

The cam arm drive mechanism 41 (see FIG. 5) includes a drive mechanismmounting stand 42 with an upper reversely pent portion 44 terminating ina mounting tab 45. The lower portion of the stand 42 similarlyterminates in a mounting tab 46. Both the upper and lower mounting tabs45, 46 engage a drive mechanism mounting slot 48. The mounting slot 48is defined bya drive mechanism mounting slot cover 49 secured to backingpieces 50, the backing pieces 50 being secured as by gluing to the back19 of the display stand and the mounting slot back 49.

FIG. discloses in greater detail the power unit which, as pointed outabove, is supported by a drive mechanism mounting stand 42 to the rearface of which the battery box 50 is secured. A pair of flash lightbatteries 51 are slipped within the battery box 5% and power a smallelectric motor 52 to which a rotating motor drive arm 54 is attached.The motor drive arm has a mounting hole 55 to which the drive link 56 iscoupled. The drive link 56 has an offset bend 58 in its end portionwhich permits it to be slipped in and out of engagement with the motordrive arm 54 through the mounting hole 55. As the motor drive arm 54rotates, a reciprocating motion is imparted to its opposite end whichterminates in a female fastener 59. The female fastener 59 is engaged bysnapping it onto the male fastener 60 which in turn is fixed to amid-position of the cam arm 30. As a result, the cam arm drive mechanism41 can be engaged with any display unit by merely slipping the mountingtabs 45, 46 into the drive mechanism mounting slots 48 and then snappingthe drive link fastener 59 onto the cam arm fastener 60. When thebatteries are connected the cam arm 30 begins to reciprocate to apre-determined speed governed by the selection of the motor 52 and itsspeed reducing gears (not shown).

The cam arm 30 has a cam lobe cut out portion 61 which is flanked by thecam lobes 31. A lower hinge hook cut out portion 62 is provided so thatthe lower hinge books 25 do not interfere with the travel of the cam arm30 during its reciprocation.

The actual operation of the drive mechanism is illustrated sequentiallyin FIGS. 6 through 9 inclusive, at the upper portion of which isdiagrammatically illustrated the relative positions of the page inserts12. In FIG. 6 the two pages are atop each other at the left hand portionof the display unit as viewed from the rear. In this configuration, thecam follower tabs 28 are parallel and relatively fiat with the back ofthe cam arm 30. As the cam arm 30 begins its swing to the left, 'asshown in FIG. 7', the upper cam lobe 31 engages the upper cam followertab 28' and moves the corresponding page in- Sert-12 to the straightfore and aft position as diagrammed. It will be noted that the hingehook cut out portion preeludes physical interference between the pageinsert hinge hook 25 and the cam arm 30.

As the cam arm 30 proceeds to its furthest position to the left as shownin FIG. 8 the upper cam follower tab 28 is flattened rearwardly and itscorresponding page insert 12 flattened against the front of the displayunit. The lower cam lobe 31 then engages, the lower cam follower tab 28and moves its corresponding page insert to the straight fore and aftposition as shown diagrammatically at the top of FIG. 8. In thisposition, the page insert hinge hook 25 in the upper most positionflattens in a relationship parallel to the upper cam follower tab 28 andthe lower hinge hook 25 is in a straight fore and aft position stillhaving adequate clearance supplied by the hinge hook cut out 62.

Finally the condition seen in FIG. 9 is reached which is the opposite ofthat shown in FIG. 6 in that both page inserts have been completelyturned. As the drive link 56 commences its travel to the right themirror image of the action shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 occurs. Throughoutthe entire cycle the cam arm 30 is subjected to various pressures whichare met by the body strength of the cam arm 3% reinforced by the cam armbody side flanges 64.

It will be readily appreciated that a wide variety of timing sequencescan be achieved by varying the position and configuration of the camlobe 31 and varying the stroke as well as speedof reciprocation of thedrive link 56. In larger units, or units which will be intended forlonger usage, an alternative reinforced page insert construction of thecharacter shown in FIG. 11 may be employed. In the alternative pageinsert construction, the page insert body portion is made up of twolaminations 65 which diverge at their ends 66 to accommodate therebetween a hinge hook and tab member 68.

FIG. 12 illustrates further modification of the animated display unit 10where three pages with three cam follower tabs 28 are engaged by oifsetgroups of three cam lobes 31. It is contemplated that various multiplesof page inserts may be used within the scope of the present invention,limited only by the available strength requirements of the materialused.

In review it will be seen that an animated display unit 10 has beendisclosed and described which can be inexpensively fabricated from cutpaperboard. Despite the employment of relatively inexpensive materials,the unit presents a picture of stability and has proved itselfsufficiently durable to operate continuously throughout a several-weekadvertising campaign. The power unit 41 may be transferred from adiscarded display unit to a new one by means of a snap fastener whichalso serves to journal the drive link 56. Different drive links may bereadily inserted into the motor drive arm 54 depending upon theconstruction of the particular display unit.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit theinvention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usagesand equivalents of the animated display sign as fall within the spiritand scope of the invention, specification, and appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animated display comprising, in combination, a display board, pageinserts for attachment to the display board, hinge means sequentiallystaggered on the page inserts, second hinge means on said display board.whereby the page inserts are removably and hingedly secured to thedisplay board for turning to simulate page turning, cam follower meansextending from each page insert of sufficient rigidity to turn the pageinsert about its hinged attachment when actuated, a cam arm pivotallysupported by the display board, staggered cam means on the cam arm tosequentially engage the respective cam follower means when the cam armis pivoted. and drive means connected to the cam arm to provide forreciprocatingly pivoting the cam arm about its pivotal connection to thedisplay board in response to which the page inserts are sequentiallyturned first in one direction and then in the opposite direction byintermittently applying turning forces from opposite directions to eachof the cam follower means from the respective cam means.

2. An animated display comprising, in combination, a display board, pageinserts for attachment-to the display board, sequentially staggeredhinge means on each of said page inserts, second hinge means on saiddisplay board whereby the page inserts are removably and hingedlysecured to the display board for turning to simulate page turning, a camfollower tab extending from each page insert of sufiicient rigidity toturn the page insert on its hinged attachment when actuated, a cam armpivoted at one end to the rear of the display board and having a camlobe open portion spaced from its pivot and adapted to receive the pageinsert cam follower tabs, lobes on the cam lobe open portion tosequentially engage each of the cam follower tabs when the cam arm ispivoted, and drive means at. the rear of the display board connected tothe cam arm to provide for reciprocatingly pivoting the cam arm aboutits pivotal connection to the display board whereby the page inserts aresequentially turned.

3. An animated display comprising, in combination, a display board, pageinserts for attachment to the display board, each of said page insertshaving sequentially staggered hinge hooks, means defining hinge hookslots in said display board whereby the page inserts are removably andhingedly secured to the display board for turning to simulate pageturning, a cam follower tab extending from each page insert ofsufficient rigidity to turn the page insert on its hinged attachmentwhen actuated, a cam arm pivoted at one end to the display board havinga cam lobe open portion spaced from its pivot and adapted to receive thepage insert cam follower tabs, staggered first and second groups ofopposed lobes defining opposite sides of the cam lobe open portion, eachgroup of lobes to alternately sequentially engage the cam follower tabswhen the cam arm is pivoted, and drive means connected to the cam arm toprovide for recip rocatingly pivoting the cam arm about its pivotalconnection to the display board whereby the page inserts aresequentially turned first all in one direction in response to sequentialengagement of each of the cam follower tabs by a selected lobe in thefirst group of lobes and then all in the opposite direction in responseto sequential engagement of each cam follower tab by an opposed lobe inthe second group of lobes.

4. An animated display comprising, in combination, a display board, pageinserts for attachment to the display board, each of said page insertshaving sequentially staggered hinge hooks, means defining hinge hookslots in said display board whereby the page inserts are removably andhingedly secured to the display board for turning to simulate pageturning, a cam follower tab extending from each page insert ofsufficient rigidity to turn the page insert on its hinged attachmentwhen ac tuated, a cam arm pivoted at one end to the rear of the displayboard having a cam lobe open portion above its pivot and adapted toreceive the page insert cam follower tabs, opposed lobes on the caminsert open portion to sequentially engage the cam follower tabs whenthe cam arm is pivoted, a motor on the display board, said motor drivingmotor arm, and a link removably secured to said motor arm and the camarm whereby the cam arm is reciprocatingly pivoted by the motor andthereby sequentially turns the pages.

5. In an animated display of the character defined in claim 4, a motormounting stand, said stand having a downwardly extending mounting tab,and a mounting pocket on the display board proportioned to receive themounting tab whereby the motor can be removed from the display bydetaching the drive link and lifting the mounting tab out of themounting pocket.

6. An animated paperboard display comprising, in combination, a displayboard, page inserts for attachment to the display board, each of saidpage inserts having sequentially staggered hinge hooks, means defininghinge hook slots in said display board whereby the page inserts areremovably and hingedly secured to the display board for turning tostimulate page turning, cam follower tabs extending from each pageinsert of sufficient rigidity to turn the page insert on its hingedattachment when actuated, a cam arm pivoted at its lower end to the rearof the display board having a cam lobe open portion above its pivot andadapted to receive the page insert cam follower tabs, a cam arm retainersecured to the display board to support the cam arm at its upper end,opposed lobes on the cam insert open portion to sequentially engage thecam follower tabs when the cam sheet is pivoted, and drive means at therear of the display board connected to the cam arm to provide forreciprocatingly pivoting the cam arm about its pivotal connection to thedisplay board whereby the page inserts are sequentially turned.

7. An animated paperboard display comprising, in combination, a displaystand, a display board mounted on said display stand, an overlap portionwhere the display stand and display board are laminated together, pageinserts, each page insert having a pair of spaced hinge hooks, a camfollower tab on each page insert intermediate the hinge hooks, meansdefining a plurality of alined slots in the overlap portion to receivethe hinge hooks and cam follower tabs, a cam arm having a pivoted mountto the overlap portion at its lower end, a cam arm retainer secured tothe overlap portion and constraining the cam arm against rearwarddeflection, a cam lobe cut-out in the cam arm positioned to overlie theslot through which the cam followers extend, cam lobes in opposedvertically staggered relation in the cam lobe slot, a drive motor, adrive arm secured to the drive motor for rotation and having a drivelink hole near its free end, a drive link having an offset end portionfor removable attachment to the drive arm through its end hole, a snapfastener at the end opposite the offset end of the drive link, snapfastener coupling means on the cam arm, a motor mounting stand to whichthe motor is secured, tabs on the motor mounting stand, pockets on therear of the overlap portion to receive the motor mounting stand tabswhereby the motor is secured to the stand in position to be coupled withthe cam arm by the drive link whereby the cam arm is reciprocatedthereby sequentially turning the page inserts.

8. An animated display comprising, in combination, a display board, pageinserts for attachment to the display board, hinge means on the pageinserts, second hinge means on said display board whereby the pageinsert hinge means engage the display board hinge means therebyremovably and hingedly securing said page inserts to the display boardfor turning to simulate page turning, a single cam follower extendingfrom each page insert of sufl-icient rigidity to turn the page insertabout its hinge attachment when actuated, a cam arm pivoted to thedisplay board, cam means on the cam arm to sequentially engage each camfollower when the cam arm is pivoted, and drive means connected to thecam arm to provide for reciprocating the cam arm about the pivotalconnection to the display board whereby the page inserts aresequentially turned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

